The utilization of external cardiohemodynamic patient assessment, applying non-invasive stick-on contact patches to the mother's neck on either side and chest wall on either side, enables the practitioner to have information about the patient's cardiac function and vascular status beyond simply blood pressure and pulse. This information, once collected, should open the practitioner's eyes to better assess the patient's disease status and her response to therapy. We will use this information to compare the effectiveness of the two standard medications used for treatment of maternal high blood pressure.

ICG test is performed on pregnant women before receiving any antihypertensive medication. Labetalol and Hydralazine, two ot the most commonly used antihypertensives to treat high blood pressure in pregnant women will be used in this study.

This group will receive administration of the antihypertensive Hydralazine for the attempted control of their blood pressure and stabilization of their hemodynamic state.

Labetalol

This group will receive administration of the antihypertensive Labetalol for the attempted control of their blood pressure and stabilization of their hemodynamic state.

Detailed Description:

Pregnant patients with severe acute hypertension due either to superimposed preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia or severe gestational hypertension will be randomized to receive either of two antihypertensive agents (hydralazine or labetalol). Just before drug administration and immediately thereafter impedance cardiography of the patient will be undertaken and the results analyzed relative to the cardiac profile and the drug administered to reduce the severe hypertension.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 45 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:

Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Sampling Method:

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Nulliparous or parous patients with severe hypertension, a singleton gestation, gestational age greater than 20 weeks along who are admitted to the Wiser Hospital for Women and Infants at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Nulliparous or parous patients with severe hypertension

Singleton gestation

Gestational age greater than 20 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

Multiple gestation

Gestational age less than 20 weeks

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01248169

Locations

United States, Mississippi

Wiser Hospital for Women and Infants at the University of Mississippi Medical Center

Jackson, Mississippi, United States, 39216

Sponsors and Collaborators

University of Mississippi Medical Center

Investigators

Principal Investigator:

James N Martin, MD

SOM-Obstetrics & Gynecology

More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party:

James Martin, Professor, Ob-Gyn, University of Mississippi Medical Center